MONTEGO BAY, St James — RIPTON Stewart Macpherson, the late outstanding Speaker of the House was said to be, among other things, stern, but fair, and one who commanded respect from both sides of the Legislature.

But at last Saturday’s official thanksgiving service for the late politician and attorney at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Montego Bay, mourners got a glimpse of his ‘lighter side’.

Former Prime Minister PJ Patterson, in his tribute recalled that Macpherson was always helping people in his St Catherine constituency to secure jobs.

“One day a carpenter who he had helped, came to his office handed his secretary an envelope for Macpherson. When he opened the envelope, it was a cheque from the man showing his appreciation,” said Patterson.

Macpherson laughed and told his secretary to return the cheque and let the man know that: “I helped him to secure a job, I did not sell him one,” Patterson said, eliciting much laughter amongst the large congregation.

The former prime minister also spoke of Macpherson’s constituents complaining bitterly about the long time it was taking to connect electricity to a new housing development.

“….. Macpherson went to the Jamaica Public Service Company and asked for a date when the lights would be turned on. He got the date and presented himself at 5:45 pm in the community and at 6:15 pm as the lights came on, Macpherson clapped his hands and spoke: “The Father said ‘Let there be light and here is light’,” said Patterson.

Macpherson served as Member of Parliament from 1972 to 1976 in the constituency of South St Catherine and again as MP from 1976 to 1980 in South East St Catherine. He was House Speaker from 1972 to 1980.

Patterson recalled the vigour and excitement the late parliamentarian brought to the memorable campaign of 1972. “But,” said Patterson, “I could not fail to notice his obvious discomfort and look of bemusement, as others on the platform gyrated merrily to the pulsation music- the Rod of Correction, Beat Down Babylon and Everything Crash.”

John Bodden, Macpherson’s friend for more than 50 years said he met the former house speaker through his friend Dr Roy Foster, with whom he had been sailing for years.

Bodden recalled that one day while they were going sailing Foster told him that whenever he was offering Macpherson a drink, he should serve it with a napkin.

“Of course I looked at him in absolute amazement as that had never been done while sailing. Roy looked at me and said, ‘because Ripton is kind of like a gentleman’ well at the end of the day’s sailing, I found out that Roy’s statement was true, but not completely true, for Ripton was not like a gentleman, he was indeed a true gentleman,” said Bodden.

The congregation also erupted in laughter when Bodden narrated an incident in which Macpherson used his influence to get his daughter and her two friends — who were stranded in Jamaica — on a flight ‘bumping’ three passengers in the process.

“When I asked him (Macpherson) how he did it, he said ‘well I did have to make a few calls and I am certain that there are three Americans still uncertain and mystified as to what happened to their reservations’.”

Macpherson died at the MoBay Hope Medical facility on January 20 after a brief illness.

He was 88.

The late House Speaker is survived by his widow Margot, children Michael, Nicole and Maria.

Following the official service, his body was interred in the Dovecot of St James cemetery.